Toy trackway and vehicle therefor



' March 14, 1967 H LEMELSON TOY TRACKWAY AND VEHICLE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 26, 1964 INVENTOR. Jerome H. Lemelson ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,308,575 TOY TRACKWAY AND VEHICLE THEREFOR Jerome H. Lemelson, 85 Rector St., Metuchen, NJ. 08840 Filed Feb. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 347,532 9 Claims. (Cl. 46-442) This application is a continuation-in-part of a copending application Serial No. 834,875 filed August 19, 1959 (since abandoned) which is a continuation-in-part of an application Serial No. 485,041 filed January 31, 1955 (now matured into Patent No. 2,939,707).

This invention relates to a toy trackway and a powered toy vehicle therefor.

It is known in the art to construct t-oy tracks of wood, metal sheet and rigid plastic materials. These materials offer numerous advantages but are limited in application in that the shape of the resulting track or trackway is limited to that as formed. Simulation of full scale conventional roadways which vary in contour both in the vertical as well as horizontal directions is not possible due to the rigidity of conventionally produced model track and constructions are generally limited to flat or slightly sloping track arrangements.

In an important form of this invention a toy track is provided which is made of a flexible plastic material. In an important embodiment thereof, the material is a magnetic plastic or rubber which is magnetized, along its length providing a surface against which a wheel, drum or belt of a toy vehicle may continuously ride and be held thereag-ainst by the force of magnetic attraction. By providing the vehicle light enough in weight and providing a suflicient area contact between its wheels or other form of drive means and the track or roadway, the resulting force of magnetic attraction will be suflicient to hold the vehicle thereagainst to permit the vehicle to travel at steep inclines to the horizontal and even upsidedown on the track, thereby improving the operation of the toy and enhancing its play value.

It is a primary object of this to provide a new and improved structure in a toy track which may be made to conform to a plurality of shapes to improve the versatility and use of the track.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved structure in a toy track which may be made to conform to a plurality of shapes to improve the versatility and use of the track so as to permit a toy vehicle riding thereon to follow an irregular path.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved toy and a trackway for a vehicle which will permit the performance of the vehicle in a manner heretofore not possible.

Another object is to provide an improved toy guidance means in the form of an elongated guide member which may be twisted, bent or otherwise deformed into an infinite number of configurations and provided as a toy vehicle track which extends in the vertical as well as horizontal directions.

Another object is to provide a new and improved toy track of elongated shape which may be twisted about its longitudinal axis and is magnetic in characteristic whereby a toy vehicle is attracted thereto and will rotate about said axis in accordance with the twisting applied thereto and will travel upside down on said track as well as at a plurality of attitudes not heretofore attainable with conventional track.

Another object is to provide a new and improved roadtrack made of flexible plastic which will easily deform or bend oblique to the longitudinal axis thereof permitting it to be shaped into simulated gully and hill or riser portions as found in conventional country roads.

Another object is to provide a new and improved toy track for a powered vehicle, which track is so magnetized along its length for holding the vehicle against the track and is also produced of a material having a higher friction coefficient than smooth metal, thereby providing a greater degree of traction.

Another object is to provide an improved plastic toy track having conducting metal inserts.

Another object is to provide a new and improved track for toy trains and the like which may be easily shaped according to the desires of the child into a plurality of different configurations and on which a toy vehicle may travel at steep angles without falling off.

A further object is to provide improved designs for magnetic-toy vehicle wheels and closed loop drive means which may be used with certain of the embodiments of the invention and the like.

This invention utilizes plastic or rubber material in the construction of a track and/ or a toy vehicle wheel or prime moving means having, in one form, magnetic particle therein adapted for attracting and holding said vehicle against said track by the forces of magnetic attraction whereby said vehicle may travel at various attitudes including steep inclines to the horizontal or in hanging relation on said track. In the embodiments provided hereafter one or both of the two members, track or vehicle, may be magnetized whereby it will always be attracted to the other or attract the other in a manner whereby the vehicle. may travel relative to the track yet will be held there against. If the vehicle wheel or drive means is made of a magnetic plastic which is magnetized, the track may be made of a similar magnetic plastic or magnetically susceptible material which need not be magnetized but which will be attracted to the former with sufiicient force to hold the vehicle on the track at steep angles to the horizontal as it travels therealong.

Conventional thermoplastic polymeric materials may be utilized for both track and vehicle whenever magnetic plastic or rubber material is mentioned hereafter, it may be considered to consist of any plastic which is filled or mixed with finely divided para-magnetic particles such as micro-sized iron powers or ferrites such as barium ferrite. A particular available flexible magnetic plastic material is known as Koroseal flexible magnetic strip manufactured by The B. F. Goodrich Company which may be permanently magnetized. The Koroseal flexible magnetic strip has a relatively high demagnetizing force which is over 20 times that of carbon steel and nearly twice that of the socalled Alnico V magnetic material. The residual flux density of Koroseal magnetic strip is approximately 1150 oersteds and its maximum energy product (B.H. Max) is .402 times 10. Koroseal magnetic extrusions may be magnetized in various manners including an arrangement whereby the North Pole runs continuously the length of the strip on one ,edge and the South Pole on the opposite edge or can have its poles across the width or thickness or along one face with the two poles along the edge or along one face with alternating poles, and in long continuous lengths. As a result it may be used to continuously attract a magnetically susceptible object such as the wheel of a toy vehicle. This invention utilizes extrusions of a flexible or rigid magnetic plastic such as Koroseal which are shaped to perform multiple other functions such as guiding a toy wheel or wheels of a toy vehicle and improving the relative forces between the two.

Wherever provided hereafter, the magnetic plastic is thus either magnetized with one pole thereof running the length of the strip member comprising the track or the tire of the vehicle wheel, or is magnetized at a plurality of positions along its length. The magnetization may run lateral to the longitudinal axis of the track or strip or parallel thereto in which the poles at a surface of the strip alternate (ie N, S, N, S, N, S, etc.). Any of these magnetizing arrangements will effect the attraction of a wheel made of a para-magnetic material which is not magnetized such as sheet steel or the like.

In wheel construction provided hereafter in which either the wheel of the rim or tire portion thereof is made of a magnetic plastic, the magnetic portion or rim of the wheel may be magnetized in one of several manners. In a preferred embodiment, if the track is made of a magnetic plastic it is preferably magnetized with the same pole provided along one side of its length and the opposite pole along the other. In this arrangement, the wheel may be magnetized with its rim or tire having the same pole along the entire outer diameter or periphery thereof which pole is opposite to that of the pole of the magnetic track portion which it engages so that a maximum magnetic attraction force is derived between the two.

The invention also consists of certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth as claimed.

The nature of the invention, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization, may be better understood by referring to the following escription, taken in connection with the ac c-ompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is an end cross sectional view of a toy track made out of a magnetic plastic material and part of a toy vehicle suspended from said track;

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a modified toy track construction,

FIG. 2 is a side view of part of the track and vehicle of FIG. 1 with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an end view in cross section of a magnetic track of ribbon or flat shape showing vehicle components riding on both surfaces of said track and further illustrating means for supporting said track;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a rectangular cross section magnetic track and a toy object adapted to be supported by and ride on said track and in a plurality of attitudes;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a magnetic plastic track having a plurality of longitudinal guide-channels or grooves formed therein;

FIG. 6 is an end view in partial cross section of a magnetic toy track and vehicle suspended therefrom.

In FIG. 1 is shown the combination of a cylindrical track and a wheel held thereon by magnetic attraction in a hanging position. The wheel 16 may be used per se in a toy or may be part of a vehicle the frame or body 18 of which is suspended from the axle 17 of said wheel. In one form of the invention, the wheel 16 may be made of a magnetic material such as a ceramic magnet, Alnico, plastic or other magnet and maybe magnetized while the 'base of track 10 is made out of a flexible or rigid magnetic material as heretofore described. In another form of the invention the wheel 16 may be any suitable, lightweight permanent magnetic material such as steel in the form of a stamping or machined disc or a plastic filled with magnetic particles as described, while the track 10' is made of flexible magnetic particle filled plastic, the particles of which are magnetized providing said flexible track as an elongated magnet. In a further form of the invention both track and wheel or wheels may be magnetized with the magnetization of both oriented so that they create a force of magnetic attraction between the two as long as the rim of the wheel is in engagement with any part of the surface of the track 10. In FIG. 1 the track 10' consists of two portions, as outer portion 12 made of said magnetic flexible plastic and a core portion 14 made of a soft bendable material such as copper or lead. 'Such a combination of materials permits the cylindrical track to be deformed by hand into a desired configuration or contour such as a closed loop and/or in a plurality of bends which the wheel 16 will follow in its travel along said track as it is held thereagainst by magnetic attraction.

The flexible magnetic plastic covering 12 may be extruded over the lead wire 14 to form said track, or if the portion 12 is provided as a tube, the core 14 may be inserted therein from one end or by slitting the tube.

A number of variations are hereby proposed for the design of the track of FIG. 1. It may be provided as a solid or hollow cylindrical extrusion of flexible or rigid magnetic plastic or rubber without resort to the use of a deformable core member 14 of lead, copper, or other metal. If the cylindrical magnetic portion 12 is made of an easily flexed plastic, it may be strung between two upright supports and allowed to hang in a limp attitude whereupon the toy vehicle will travel along a path dictated by the tensioning of the monofilament. If the cylindrical track 10' is made of a more rigid magnetic plastic such as a magnetic particle filled vinyl, acetate, sytrene or the like it may be used in one of several manners. 'It may be supported at one or both ends as a straight length of rod or tubing from which a wheel or vehicle may hang as illustrated in FIG. 1. It may also be flexed to bend in an are between two supports. In a third embodiment, the rigid cylindrical magnetic plastic track may be bent or deformed into a plurality of simple or complex shapes including such shapes as sinewave formations, zig-zag contours, or inverse loops which are supported at both ends by proper magnetization of the track, a wheel such as 16 made of steel, magnetic plastic or the like may be made to hug and hang from said track as illustrated as it travels therealong. The notation 16 refers to the circular contour of the central portion of 16 which is shaped to make surface contact with a substantial circumferential portion of the surface of 12 whereby sufficient attraction is provided to hold said wheel thereagainst as it rolls along 12.

In FIG. 2 I show a side view of part of the track of FIG. 1 having bracket formation or portion 13 extending upward therefrom for supporting and holding said track in a predetermined attitude. The bracket portion 13 is shown as a flat leaf or strip formation of short length or which may extend the entire length of the portion 12 as an extruded formation thereon and which projects upward from 12 in a manner so as not to interfere with the travel of the wheel 16 therealong. FIG. 1 shows an endview of 13 which is not as wide as the diameter of 12 and is integrally formed therewith. Bracket portion 13 may consist of the same material as 12 and may be molded or extruded thereon or may be another material secured to 12 by means of an adhesive, fasteners or frictional engagement therewith. The notation 1311 refers to a hole through 13 through which a rivet or threaded fastener may extend for holding a bracket or other support against 13 for supporting the track. The support 19 of FIG. 2 is shown as a bent portion of the end of a wire finger which may extend upward as illustrated to a further support therefor to hold the track in a predetermined attitude. A plurality of the portions 13 or brackets per forming a similar function may be provided along the length of 10' for supporting said track and maintaining it in a substantially fixed attitude as the vehicle travels along it.

FIG. 1' illustrates further modifications to the cylindrical track of FIG. 1 and particularly the means for securing a plurality of supports to said track for holding it away from the floor or a supporting surface so that a toy may ride suspended from said track. The crosssectional view shows the core member 14 embedded in a central plastic core 12a which comprises a flexible plastic material or rubber over which is extruded or otherwise provided a capping layer 12b of magnetic plastic material. The construction permits a saving in magnetic plastic material by providing only the outer shell of the track 10' made thereof which portion is suflicient to support a a toy or vehicle in a hanging attitude as illustrated in FIG.- 1, when magnetized as described along its length.-

A further feature of FIG. 1' is the provision of a plurality of holes 13H which extend radially from the outer surface of 12 to the core member 14. The track may be supported from above by means of a pin 191, the nose 19F of which is greater in cross-section than the area of the hole 13H and is adapted to be pushed therein whereby it is frictionally engaged by the material of the wall of said hole in 10. A shelf 19 extending laterally from 19F engages the outer surface of 10' and permits the penetration of the nose 19F a predetermined degree in 13H while affording further support to the assembly by preventing the longitudinal deflection of 19P relative to 10. A plurality of pin-like supports 19F may project from an overhead or side mount therefor each adapted to support the track by engagement in a respective hole such as 13H extending from the top portion thereof radially to the core member 14. If the core member 14 is large enough, it may have radial holes provided therein which align with the holes 13H and are threaded to receive the threaded end of a pin such as 191 to more rigidly support the track from above. The notation 13H" refers to a plurality of other holes extending radially towards the core 14 through the outer jacket 12b which holes may be used to receive short pins or the like which project outward from the track and may be used to stop the forward motion of the toy thereon or to trip a mechanism for reversing the direction of the drive for said toy. It is also notexl that the nose 19F of pin 19P may be cemented or welded in the hole 13H to permanently secure it thereto and may be shaped at its outer end in the form of a hook or eye to be received by a further supporting member such as a pin or hook projecting from one or more overhead or side mounted supports such as beams, rods or poles supported upright on the floor or table on which the track is mounted.

In FIG. 3 is shown a modified form of the invention which consists of a relatively flat track 20 made of a flexible magnetic plastic material having guide means formed in both surfaces thereof for guiding the wheels of a toy vehicle along the length of said track. The track 20 consists of a central portion 22 of substantially fiat, sheet-like configuration the sides of which are inflected providing side guide portions 24 and 26 which extend the length of said track and serve to define longitudinal guide means for a vehicle riding therein on either surface of said track. If the wheels of the vehicle 27 or 28 are made of steel or any other magnetically susceptible material, provided that said vehicle is light enough in weight and the force of magnetic attraction is great enough, said vehicle may ride on said track regardless of its attitude to the horizontal. Shown in FIG. 3 are pairs of wheels of respective vehicles referred to by the notations 27 and 28, each of which is shown riding against a respective surface of the track 20. It can thus be seen that if the track 20 of FIG. 3 is supported in such a manner that the support will not interfere with the travel of a vehicle on either surface of the track, a vehicle may be made to operate on one surface of the track while a second vehicle is running along the other surface thereof. It is also noted that if the track 20 of FIG. 3 is provided as a single section in which said track is twisted 180 degrees before the ends are joined then said track provides substantially a single surface on which a vehicle may ride which is continuous and of a closed loop type. In traveling a complete cycle on such a closed loop track, a vehicle will travel substantially twice the length of the track and will traverse both surfaces thereof.

The wheels 27a and 27b which are part of the upper vehicle assembly 27 are shown with a substantially flat rim 27' which affords a greater contact area with the surface of the central portion 22 of the magnetic track 20 thereby providing a greater resulting force of attraction than if a conventional rounded or beveled wheel were employed.

The wheels 28a and 28b of the lower vehicle 28 are shown with a peripheral shape adapted to engage both the surface of the central portion 22 of the track and the tapered side portions 24a and 26a. In the former construction the vehicle may have some freedom of lateral motion during its longitudinal travel along the track whereas in the latter construction the lateral motion is restricted by the mating engagement of the tapered side surfaces 28a and 28b of both said wheels with the tapered or sloped surfaces 24a and 26a of the side guides 24a and 26a of the track. The latter construction provides a greater force of attraction between the wheel and the track since the greater surface of the wheel is in engagement with the track and hence a heavier vehicle may be provided or a track of smaller crosssectional area may be utilized. However, if the wheels are provided relatively wide, or are replaced with one wide wheel or drum, and the central portion 22 of the track or guideway is magnetized along its length in one of the arrangements hereinbefore described, then the additional force of attraction afforded by the illustrated sloped walls will not be needed to support the vehicle upside down as shown provided that the vehicle is not so heavy that its weight overcomes the force of attraction. The four wheels or two drums of the vehicle may thus be of substantially shorter width than the distance between the side walls 24 and 26 of the track. In a preferred embodiment, both the wheels and track are made of magnetic plastic and are magnetized to always provide a maximum force of attraction between the two. By radially polarizing the Wheels so that the same magnetic poles appear around the periphery and magnetizing the track with the opposite pole appearing on the surface against which the wheel engages, a maximum force of attraction is attained to retain the vehicle thereon.

The notations 25 and 25 refer to respective core members or wires which extend the length of the track 2% for permitting said track to retain whatever shape it is bent into. The members 25 and 25' may be made of soft, easily deformable copper or lead wire and may be replaced by a single cylindrical rod running along the length of the track or by a flat strip or sheet centrally disposed within the flexible portion thereof. As in the construction of the track of FIGS. 1 and 2, several methods may be utilized to support the track of FIG. 3 against or away from a surface in a plurality of configurations. The notation 23 refers to a securing portion of the extrusion which forms said track, which portion defines a projection running the length of said track which may be fastened to a support or bracket for holding said track off a surface. The portion 23 may have a plurality of slots or holes 23h therein the walls of which may be used to frictionally engage brackets or protruding portions from support members such as the illustrated vertical pole or rod 29 which is shown engaged in a hole through 23. Portion 23 may also be a metal or plastic bracket bonded to the side of the track or held thereagainst with fasteners. At the other side of said track is shown a hole extending partially into the track from the side surface thereof in which a pin or protrusion from an upright bracket or pole such as 29' may be forced to frictionally engage and hold said track away from a surface. Numerous other securing means may also be provided such as spring loaded clamps, clips, wires, cord or rods from which said track may be suspended or on which said track may rest.

Many variations in the cross-sectional shapes of the tracks of FIGS. 1 and 3 are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the cylindrical track of FIG. 1 may be replaced by a triangular, rectangular or any desired cross-section of an extrusion which will serve the desired end purpose. The track of FIG. 4 is shown as being square or rectangular in crosssection which provides four pairs of surfaces against which a wheel such as the V-shaped wheel 36 of FIG. 4 may ride. The V-surfaces of the track of FIG. 4 provide not only substantial areas of contact with the surfaces 36a and 36b of the V-section of the Wheel but also serve as a guide and support for said wheel when it is attracted thereagainst. The wheel 36 may ride on top of 36 since it is prevented from falling sidewards by the pair of surfaces 32a and 32!) which define the upper surfaces of 36 or may hang in the attitude illustrated in FIG. 4. If 30 is positioned properly relative to further guide means for the Wheel or wheels 36, said wheel may ride on either of the pairs of surfaces 32a, 32c or 32b, 32a. The track 36 may comprise an outer portion 32 with a centrally disposed core 34 of lead or copper as described or may be made out of flexible or rigid magnetic plastic which comprises the portion 32 per se, depending on the desired method of shaping and supporting said track.

A novel method of mounting and supporting the track 30 of FIG. 4 is illustrated in which one or more holes are provided normal to a surface of 30 or along an edge thereof. The hole 38a is shown provided along the intersection of the Walls 32b and 32d in which a pin or rod may be frictionally engaged and held for supporting the track off a surface. The notation 39 refers to a pin or rod frictionally engaged in hole 38a which pin extends downward to said track from above and therefore does not interfere with a wheel or wheels such as 36 traveling along the surfaces 320 and 32d. The holes 3811 are preferably small enough such that the wheel will roll over without being interrupted in its travel along the track.

An interesting modification utilizing the track of FIG. 4 is derived by deforming or providing said track with a plurality of twists therein along its length to define a plurality of spiraling surfaces along which the wheel or a vehicle will travel in a spiraling path provided that the support means for said track will not interfere with the travel of said wheel or vehicle. In FIG. 5 the track of FIG. 4 has been modified. The track 40 consists of a magnetic plastic portion 42 of substantially rectangular shape having flat side Walls 43 and 44 and a pair of cylindrical grooves 45 and 45 extending into said portion 42 from the top and bottom surfaces thereof. The cylindrical grooves 45 and 45' define surfaces against which Wheels 46, peripherally shaped as at 46 to conform to said surfaces may ride. The cylindrical groove thus provides in addition to a means for increasing the area of contact with the peripheral surface of the wheel, a means for guiding said wheel in its travel along the length of 40. It is noted that the somewhat square cross section track of FIG. 5 may be replaced by a flat extrusion of rectangular cross-section having two or more cylindrical or V-shaped grooves such as 45 and 45 provided therein running parallel to each other along one or both of the major surfaces thereof to guide respective side wheels of a toy vehicle adapted to ride thereon. A pair of deformable metal cores 47 and 47" as described may or may not be provided running the length or part of the length of said track for maintaining a predetermined shape thereof. Magnetization may be effected in a direction either perpendicular or parallel to the axis of rotation of wheel 46 with the same pole(s) provided at the surface of each of the grooves or channels.

A plurality of spaced apart holes may be provided in the side walls of the magnetic plastic portion 42 on either or both sides thereof for receiving and frictionally holding pin-shaped supports such as 39 for holding said track off a surface.

In FIG. 6 is illustrated a further design for a magnetic toy track and a means for mounting said track, and also shows a vehicle riding in a suspended attitude thereon. The magnetic track 63 is shown as rectangular in cross section and is provided in any suitable length. The end view shOWS the track 63 as being secured to the undersurface of a board or plate 60 having a plurality of small holes 61 provided therethrough at equal intervals throughout the board which may be used to receive and hold fasteners 62 such as short machine screws Which'pass through spacedapart holes 63h in member 63. The fasteners 62 are just long enough to extend to the bottom surface of 63 and the holes 63h therein are countersunk to receive the nuts 62' for the screws 62 for holding 63 in clamping engagement against the lower surface of 66. If the plastic of which 63 is made is flexible, said track may be laterally deformed into one or more curves or even U-loops to make it a closed loop track or the like under the board 60. If 63 is made of a sufficiently rigid plastic, the holes 63h may be threaded to receive the threaded ends of the fasteners 62 and the nuts 62' may be eliminated. In a further embodiment said nuts 62' may be molded in or otherwise bonded to the track 63 for receiving the ends of the fasteners 62.

A toy vehicle 64 is shown having a wind-up or battery powered motor 68, secured in a housing 65 which is the body of the vehicle. Motor 68 is adapted to rotate a drive member 66 with plural cylindrical portions 66a, 66b and 66c, the latter being adapted to ride against the track 63 and is magnetically attracted thereto. In other words, the cylindrical unit 66 is made of a paramagnetic material and is preferably, though not necessarily, magnetized.

Secured to the shaft 68 of motor 68 is a friction drive wheel 70 made of rubber or plastic, the peripheral surface of which is adapted to ride against the central portion 666 of the cylindrical drive unit 66. Unit 66 is provided with end portions 66a and 66b of greater diameter than the central portion 66c and is shaped so that the bottom surface of track 63 as well as at least parts of the side surfaces thereof are engaged by a plurality of surfaces of member 66. The notation 69 refers to a battery which is electrically connected to a switch 69 and the motor 68 and which powers said motor when said battery switch is closed. A second axle member similar in shape to 66 is preferably also rotationally mounted and supported in hearing by the side walls 64a and 64b of the vehicle 64 as is 66 providing a stable vehicle with sufficient attraction means to hold it against the track 63.

The plurality of holes 61 in 60 are spaced such that the track member 63 may be adjusted and held in a plurality of different curved and/ or straight portions in accordance with the desires of the person assembling said track on the surface of 60. The notation 66S refers to a beam or pole for supporting the board 60 horizontally disposed and vertically spaced from a surface such as the floor. The lateral portion 608 of 60 is provided with a hole therethrough for engaging a pin or fastener 60F which may be used to secure 608 to the board. If the board 60 is made of a transparent material such as plastic or glass the vehicle 64 may be viewed from above as Well as below. The board 60 may also be vertically disposed or at any angle to the horizontal and the vehicle adapted to travel up and down thereon. In a further embodiment the board 60 may be plywood or other material shaped with one or more permanent deformations or curved portions thereof, the fasteners 62 serving to maintain the track 63 thereagainst so that an irregular track formation is provided. If the base 60 is the surface of a large ring or cylinder the track 63 may extend in a closed loop around the interior of said cylinder or ring and/or about its exterior surface. The track 63 may also be shaped around the cylinder in a spiral path. The spiral path may be a closed loop path which extends about the exterior surface of the cylinder and when it reaches one end thereof continuous on the inside of the cylinder to return to the other end whereafter it extends over the edge of the cylinder to the surface thereof and continues in a spiral path about the exterior surface.

I claim:

1. A vehicle toy and track comprising in combination,

(a) a vehicle, said vehicle having wheel means to en gage and propel said vehicle across a surface,

(b) a base member defining a track surface on which the said wheel means of said vehicle is guided by engagement therewith,

(c) said base member defining said track surface being made of a flexible plastic material which is permanently magnetized along the entire length of said track surface, said flexible magnetic plastic material being capable of being readily shaped by hand to vary the configuration of the track, and

(d) said wheel means of said vehicle being made of a material which is magnetically attracted to said track surface,

(e) the magnetic attraction between said wheel means of said vehicle and said track surface being of sufficient magnitude to provide a means to hold said Wheel means of said vehicle against said track surface regardless of the attitude of said track surface to the horizontal end of gravity acting on said vehicle.

2. A toy and track combination in accordance with claim 1, the material of which said base member is made being a polymeric material.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said base member, upon being deformed to a predetermined shape, maintains said deformation, and means for supporting said deformed base member whereby said vehicle riding thereon will follow the configuration of said base member without effecting said deformation.

4. A toy and track combination in accordance with claim 1 and including an elongated core member of substantially constant cross section extending the length of said base member which is made of an easily deformable material which will retain its shape when bent, said core member being embedded in said base member.

5. A toy vehicle and track comprising in combination;

(a) an integrally formed continuously extending elongated -rod shaped track formed of a flexible particle filled, plastic material, the particles of which are magnetized rendering said flexible track an elongated magnet,

(b) a vehicle having a wheel, said wheel being formed of a magnetically attractable material,

(c) said track defining a surface against which the wheel of said vehicle may continuously ride, the magnetic attraction between said wheel and said track being of sufiicient magnitude to provide a means whereby the Wheel is held against the track regardless of the attitude of said track to the horizontal and of gravity acting on said vehicle and said track having a bore extending therethrough,

(d) a wire core extended through the bore of said elongated track,

(e) and said wire core being formed of a bendable material whereby said plastic track and core therein may be formed by hand into any desired configuration.

10 6. The invention defined in claim 5 and including, (a) supporting means for said track, said supporting means including a plurality of fastening means extending from said track in spaced relationship therealong in a manner so as to be free from interference with the movement of the vehicle'along said track, and, b) a plurality of upright supports, and (c) a means for securing said fastening means to said upright supports to suspend said track from said supports.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said Wheel of said vehicle has a peripheral surface shaped to engage a substantial portion of the surface of said rod shaped track against which it rides.

8. The invention defined in claim 7, said track having a flat strip portion protruding radially therefrom of thickness smaller than the diameter of the track.

(a) said protruding portion extending substantially the length of said track,

(b) said protruding portion adapted to be secured to a plurality of supporting means for supporting said track off the surface.

9. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said rod shaped track is provided with a plurality of radially extending holes extending in spaced relationship along the length of said track, and means defining supports for said track disposed in said radial holes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 442,038 12/ 1890 Goodrich 46107 572,303 12/1896 Keithley 2384 813,295 2/1906 Hills 104115 1,005,853 10/1911 Lewis 46241 1,362,518 12/1920 Villiers. 1,535,035 4/ 1925 Philipp. 2,120,251 6/1938 Johnson 46216 X 2,551,317 5/1951 Damiano 46216 2,600,951 6/ 1952 Edwards. 2,618,889 11/1952 Wigal 46132 X 2,687,304 8/1954 Northrop et a1. 46202 X 2,838,009 6/1958 Bonnano 105--77 2,862,333 12/ 1958 Gardiol 46-202 2,895,429 7/1959 Baermann 46-236 2,986,334 5/1961 Barker 104137 X 3,093,919 6/1963 Holtz 273136 X FOREIGN PATENTS 8,595 1840 Great Britain. 598,291 10/1934 Germany.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner. R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VEHICLE TOY AND TRACK COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A VEHICLE, SAID VEHICLE HAVING WHEEL MEANS TO ENGAGE AND PROPEL SAID VEHICLE ACROSS A SURFACE, (B) A BASE MEMBER DEFINING A TRACK SURFACE ON WHICH THE SAID WHEEL MEANS OF SAID VEHICLE IS GUIDED BY ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, (C) SAID BASE MEMBER DEFINING SAID TRACK SURFACE BEING MADE OF A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH IS PERMANENTLY MAGNETIZED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID TRACK SURFACE, SAID FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL BEING CAPABLE OF BEING READILY SHAPED BY HAND TO VARY THE CONFIGURATION OF THE TRACK, AND (D) SAID WHEEL MEANS OF SAID VEHICLE BEING MADE OF A MATERIAL WHICH IS MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTED TO SAID TRACK SURFACE, (E) THE MAGNETIC ATTRACTION BETWEEN SAID WHEEL MEANS OF SAID VEHICLE AND SAID TRACK SURFACE BEING OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO PROVIDE A MEANS TO HOLD SAID WHEEL MEANS OF SAID VEHICLE AGAINST SAID TRACK SURFACE, REGARDLESS OF THE ATTITUDE OF SAID TRACK SURFACE TO THE HORIZONTAL END OF GRAVITY ACTING ON SAID VEHICLE. 